TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
What type of work do you see yourself doing in the next five years?
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Have you ever traveled outside of the United States? Where?
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Destinations
Puerto Rico
The island of Puerto Rico is a
self-governing unincorporated
territory of the United States
located in the northeastern
Caribbean, east of the
Dominican Republic and west of
the Virgin Islands. As a result of
its geographical position in the
center of the arc of the Antilles, Puerto Rico is essentially a
crossroads of Hispanic and Anglo cultures. Despite its very diverse
influx of cultures, Puerto Rico has been a part of the United States
since 1898, and Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917.
Close to 4 million people live on the "Island of Enchantment," with
more than a million in the greater San Juan metropolitan area alone.
The territory is a vibrant, modern, bilingual, multicultural society, one
that has been molded by indigenous African, European and U.S.
influences. Both Spanish and English are the official languages.
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Describe any of your classes or experiences that might be related
to this course.
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Briefly describe your expectations for the program and what you
would like to accomplish.
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Please return application to:
Maria P. Aranda, Associate Professor, PhD, LCSW
at [email protected] or
Office of Global and Community Initiatives
MRF 202B
213.740.3939 • [email protected]
University of Puerto Rico
Founded in 1903, the University of Puerto Rico is the oldest and
largest university system in Puerto Rico. Though Puerto Rico is not a
U.S. state, the system is run much like a state university system, and
its programs have been accredited by U.S. accreditation agencies.
UPR consists of 11 campuses with approximately 64,740 students and
faculty. The university’s School of Social Work, la Escuela Graduada de
Trabajo Social Beatriz Lassalle, is the oldest professional school of
social work within the College of Social Sciences and the second
oldest on the main Rio Piedras campus. UPR offered its first social
work course with academic credits in 1929. Since then, the school as
evolved into a leading academic institution in graduate education.
Currently, the school offers an MSW degree and is the sole provider of
doctoral education in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
USC School of Social Work
University Park Campus
Montgomery Ross Fisher Building
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411
www.usc.edu/socialwork
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San Juan
San Juan, founded in 1521, is the capitol of Puerto Rico and is also
known as "La Ciudad Amurallada" (the walled city). As a major port
and tourist resort of the West Indies, San Juan is the oldest city
under the U.S. flag and the second oldest city in the Americas. The
metropolitan area has three distinct sectors: Old San Juan, the
Beach & Resort area and other outlying communities including the
financial district. San Juan is a spirited, modern city with high-rise
beach strips and a famous colonial core.
A Seminar Studying Abroad
Application
Diversity in a Caribbean Context:
Implications for Social Work
Puerto Rico
May/June
Program Overview
Diversity in a Caribbean Context:
Implications for Social Work
Puerto Rico
May/June
Program Details
FORMAT
The three-week program begins in Los Angeles, followed by
learning experiences in San Juan and other cities in Puerto Rico. A
pre-departure session on campus includes a distance-education lecture
with faculty at the University of Puerto Rico’s School of Social Work.
Two weeks in Puerto Rico involve daily instruction that combines
lectures with faculty and guest speakers, discussion panels, in-class
exercises, small group fieldwork and site visits to community
organizations in and around San Juan and outlying areas.
PARTICIPANTS
The program is designed for a limited number of graduate-level social
work students on a first-come, first-served basis. It is recommended
that prospective participants attend at least one informational
meeting in order to become familiar with the expectations and
logistics of the program.
ACCOMMODATIONS (subject to change)
USC will arrange housing in San Juan at either a small hotel or
short-term apartment.
The University of Southern California School of Social
Work offers a unique global immersion program in
Puerto Rico designed to provide students with both
classroom and experiential learning experiences in
diversity and social work practice in Latin America and
the Caribbean. The program will examine how diversity
characterizes and shapes the human experience and is
critical to the formation of identity. Participants will
explore multiple factors of diversity including age, class,
color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender
identity and expression, immigration status, political
ideology, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation.
Drawing from the rich history and experience of the
Puerto Rican people, students will increase their
knowledge of diversity and social work practice from
a regional perspective on such issues as race and
identity, colonization and oppression, immigration/
migration, environmental racism and other large
system influences on health and well-being, and the
role of social work in both clinical and community
practice. A central underlying theme is the resiliency
of individuals, families and communities within
empowerment-oriented ideologies and practice in
the U.S. and abroad. Students will be immersed in
daily social and cultural interactions with faculty
and students from the University of Puerto Rico and
associated human service programs on the island.
COSTS
Program costs include two-week accommodations (double-room
occupancy), breakfasts and lunches, local transportation during
program hours and field excursions on the island. Costs also include a
program administrative fee. Other fees are additional, including tuition
for a required 4-unit course and a health insurance policy if not
enrolled in the mandatory USC student health insurance plan and
covered by the international study abroad option. All participants will
be responsible for their own roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles to San
Juan, dinners and snacks, non-program local transportation and other
incidentals.
WHAT STUDENTS WILL GAIN
• Exposure to global social work through understanding regional
social problems and social problem-solving in a different culture
• Hands-on experience with individual, family and community
practice models of social work in a Caribbean setting
• A comparative perspective on similar social issues approached
differently in the United States and Puerto Rico
• An historical, cultural, religious and social perspective of factors
that shape Puerto Rican society and the resilience of its citizens
• Knowledge of empowerment theory and its application to clients in
different social work settings
• A repertoire of practice skills and techniques that can be utilized in
working with various clients and communities
• A broader understanding of challenges and opportunities
in working within interdisciplinary teams
• Professional and personal growth associated with
cross-cultural exposure
• An international network of social work colleagues
and other professional connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get credit toward my degree?
If you are enrolled in the USC School of Social Work, you will receive a
4-unit credit for completing the program.
Will this program help my chances of finding a job?
With the world growing smaller every day and the economies of all
nations becoming increasingly intertwined, employers, regardless of
profession, are eager for employees who bring new and innovative
approaches that are often shaped by experiences in non- traditional
classroom settings.
Is financial aid available?
Scholarships are not available. However, if you are receiving financial
aid for your graduate education, you may also be able to use it toward
international study. For details, visit the School of Social Work’s
Financial Aid Office.
Do I need a passport and visa?
No. You will not need a passport or visa to enter Puerto Rico. However,
you will need some form of official government-issued documentation
such as a driver’s license.
What is the weather like in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico enjoys a warm, tropical climate with year-round temperatures hovering at 82ºF (27ºC). The temperature in the south is usually
a few degrees higher than the north, and temperatures in the central
interior mountains are always cooler than the rest of the island.
Expect warm, sunny days in San Juan, but be prepared for a short rain
shower anytime.
What do I pack?
Casual, light clothing. Jeans are acceptable in the classroom and in
the field. You may also want to bring a bathing suit and a sweater or
jacket for comfort in air-conditioned buildings or vehicles. Appropriate
dinner attire is suggested for evening events. Please note that airline
baggage rules and requirements may change, thus, it is important that
you check with the airline carrier regarding baggage allowances. You
may be charged additional baggage fees.
What is the money situation?
The U.S. dollar is the official currency in Puerto Rico, occasionally
referred to as the peso. All major credit cards and traveler’s checks
are widely accepted, with ATM machines in abundant supply. However,
once you leave the cities and tourist areas, it's best to carry cash, as
the number of ATMs dwindles.
Where do I get more information?
Please contact Maria P. Aranda ,
Associate Professor at
[email protected] or the Office of
Global and Community Initiatives at
213.740.3939 or [email protected].
Application
Diversity in a Caribbean Context:
Implications for Social Work
Puerto Rico
May/June
BASIC INFORMATION
Name ________________________________________________________
School address _______________________________________________
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Permanent address ___________________________________________
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Phone _______________________________________________________
Email _________________________________________________________
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Name ________________________________________________________
Relationship _________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
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Phone _______________________________________________________
UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE/AGENCY AFFILIATION
Name of school or agency ______________________________________
Title ________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
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Degree to date _______________________________________________
Expected degree ______________________________________________
Expected graduation date _____________________________________
Student ID # (if applicable) ____________________________________